Coyotes (30-24-11) at Panthers (24-33-7)
Puck drop: 4:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-AM (860).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Boedker-Vermette-Moss
Erat-Miele-Vrbata
McMillan-Ribeiro-Doan
Korpikoski-Chipchura-Halpern
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Stone
Gormley-Summers
Smith
Potential scratches: Hanzal, Bissonnette, Schlemko, Morris and Klinkhammer.
Injury update: Center Martin Hanzal (lower-body) is out. Defenseman David Schlemko (lower-body) has returned to Phoenix.
Possible Panthers lines:
Bergenheim-Bjugstad-Boyes
Fleischmann-Trocheck-Upshall
Huberdeau-Pirri-Crabb
Barch-Gomez-Hayes
Campbell-Gilbert
Kulikov-Jovanovski
Mottau-Olsen
Luongo
Potential scratches: Winchester, Gomez and Gudbranson.
Injury update: Defenseman Erik Gudbranson (knee) and center Jesse Winchester (lower-body) are out. Forwards Tomas Kopecky (concussion) and Aleksander Barkov (knee) are on injured reserve.
Goalie Mike Smith gets the start in back-to-back nights:
"Smitty will go back in," coach Dave Tippett said. "Smitty felt good after the game last night, wants to jump back in there, so we’ll give him that opportunity."
On what impressed him the most about Monday's 4-3 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning:
"The way we stuck with it," Tippett said. "We talked after the second period about we had a good period we deserved some breaks here. We gotta get some breaks coming our way. We kind of had a break on (Martin) Erat’s goal, and we pushed the game along.
"I thought we defended really well. Late in the period, we made a little bit of a misread to give up that goal but then we hung around and found a way to get points and that’s what it’s about right now. I thought our young gave gave us good energy, a good enthusiasm. It was one of those nights you just felt good about what we were doing."
On the Coyotes' special teams play as of late:
"Up and down a little bit," Tippett said. "Our power play continues to contribute a little bit. Our penalty kill has been, a little like all year, up and down a little bit. We kind of go in hot streaks and we like what we’re doing, and then the other night in Washington we give up one that cost us. Both we continue to pound away at, but both you try to build off the success you've had."
-The Coyotes are 11-4 in games when winger Mikkel Boedker scores.
-Winger Brandon McMillan's career-long goal streak is three games. He's currently on a two-game streak.
-Defenseman Keith Yandle is in the midst of a three-game point streak and now leads the team in scoring with 44 points. He's one of four defensemen to lead his team in scoring.
-The Coyotes are 2-0-1 against the Panthers with Tippett at the helm.
-Panthers winger and former Coyote Scottie Upshall has tallied six points in his last eight games.
-The Panthers are 11-11-7 in one-goal games this season.
-Their power play ranks 30th in the league (9.6 percent).
-Their penalty killing unit also is the league's worst at 75.5 percent.

Coyotes (29-24-11) at Lightning (34-24-6)
Puck drop: 4:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-AM (860).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Boedker-Vermette-Moss
Erat-Miele-Vrbata
McMillan-Ribeiro-Doan
Korpikoski-Chipchura-Halpern
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Stone
Gormley-Summers
Smith
Potential scratches: Hanzal, Bissonnette, Schlemko, Morris and Klinkhammer.
Injury update: Center Martin Hanzal (lower-body) is out. Defenseman David Schlemko (lower-body) is returning to Phoenix.
Possible Lightning lines:
Killorn-Stamkos-Purcell
Palat-Filppula-Callahan
Brown-Johnson-Panik
Malone-Thompson
Hedman-Salo
Carle-Brewer
Kostka-Barberio
Aulie
Bishop
Potential scratches: Gudas, Pyatt, Crombeen and Kucherov.
Injury update: Defenseman Radko Gudas (leg) is day-to-day.
On the lineup changes:
"We shuffled some things around," coach Dave Tippett said. "Obviously you look at where we’re at, it’s not working. We just haven't played well enough. There’s some young guys that have played really well. We’ll put them in and see if they can generate some more speed and aggressiveness for us."
Defenseman Brandon Gormley will make his NHL debut tonight:
"Happy to get an opportunity here, and I just have to take advantage of it," he said. "It’s what I've been working for. It’s an exciting time for me and like I said, I gotta use this opportunity."
Reflecting on Saturday's 3-2 loss in Washington to the Capitals:
"Ultimately, mistakes are biting us," Tippett said. "There’s certain things you have to do in a game to win. If you look at that game, we were getting out-chanced significantly early in the game. Just in the third pierod some of those chances went in. It’s bothersome because I think some of those things we can clean up.
"I think we should have blocked that shot on the first one. I think our D-zone coverage was just poor on the second one, and the third one we took an offensive zone penalty by throwing the puck in front from behind the net blind, which you don’t do that whether you're protecting a lead or not protecting a lead and take a penalty on it. We had a mindset to try to play more aggressive in the third period, but it came back to bite us."
Schlemko is set to return to Phoenix today with a bone bruise on his left foot:
"We thought maybe that would come a long quicker than it has," Tippett said. "... He wasn’t getting any better."
-Forward Andy Miele has scored 23 goals and 58 points in 56 games in Portland this season.
-Defenseman Chris Summers played 15:29 and had three shots, three hits and three blocked shots in his season debut Saturday.
-Center Antoine Vermette is first among the team's forwards with 53 blocked shots.
-Goalie Mike Smith posted a 2.85 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 118 games with the Lightning.
-Tampa goalie Ben Bishop ranks fourth in the NHL in wins (29) and is third in save percentage (.930).
-The Lightning haven't allowed a power play goal in their last five home games.
-Defenseman Victor Hedman has registered a goal and 14 assists in his last 14 games.
-Tampa has 10 players on its current roster that have played less than 100 career NHL games, including four that have played 50 games or less.

Many expected the Vancouver Canucks to be busy at last Wednesday's trade deadline. After all, center Ryan Kesler seemed to be available following a report he had requested a trade.
But once the deadline hit at 1 p.m. Arizona time, Kesler was still with the Canucks and it was goalie Roberto Luongo who found himself with a new address. The Canucks traded Luongo and forward Steven Anthony to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goalie Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias.
The Canucks had previously been trying to move Luongo and his long-term contract (he signed for 12 years in 2010-11), but it'd been difficult to find willing trade partners to accept the $64 million contract.
"I was getting ready to play, I didn't have any idea something serious was going down,'' Luongo told George Richards of the Miami Herald. "There's always rumors floating around, but I've been hearing them for a couple of years. You stop listening to them. I was ready to play. It happened quick and caught me off guard. To be honest, I'm still in a little bit of disbelief. It'll be nice to practice with my new teammates and get some normalcy back.''
Leafs stay together
The Atlantic Division was one of the most active at the trade deadline -- except for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Montreal added winger Thomas Vanek, Tampa Bay swapped captains with the New York Rangers, Buffalo dealt goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott and Boston, Detroit, Ottawa and Florida also made acquisitions.
But the Leafs remained idle at the deadline despite their peers making moves.
"That’s like trying to keep up with the Joneses,” General Manager Dave Nonis told Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun. “But if it’s not going to help you, then why do it? To make a deal that’s going to set you back because someone else has made a deal, that’s not a prudent way to build your team.”
What also probably influenced Nonis' decision to keep his group intact at the deadline was the Leafs' 11-2-1 showing before breaking for the Olympics.
“Now it’s up to the group to play the level that we saw pre-Olympic break,” Nonis said. “If we do, we should be fine and if we don’t ... we’re going to have some difficulties."
Up in the stars
The Dallas Stars retired Mike Modano's No.9 on Saturday, and it was appropriate they hosted the Minnesota Wild while doing so.
Modano was taken first overall in 1988 by the Minnesota North Stars by General Manager Lou Nanne, who recounted the thinking behind selecting Modano over Trevor Linden to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
"(Then-owner Gordon Gund’s] wife wanted us to take Linden,” Nanne said, laughing. “We brought the two kids to Traverse City for interviews, and then Gordon flew them to Detroit. Gordon called the next day and said, ‘What have you decided? [Llura] really likes Linden.’ I said, ‘Well, I hope she doesn’t hate me because we’re taking Modano.'
“I said, ‘Gordon, this kid is a charismatic guy that has tremendous talent that brings people into the building and then lifts them out of their seat. The other guy doesn’t.’”
Golden opportunity
The Edmonton Oilers invited Canadian women's Olympic team goalie Shannon Szabados to practice with the team Wednesday while they waited for Viktor Fasth to arrive from Anaheim.
A day earlier, the Oilers acquired Fasth and shipped out Ilya Bryzgalov to Minnesota.
"The Oilers welcomed me with open arms. I was just another player on the ice, maybe one with longer hair," said Szabados, who won gold in Sochi.
Two days later, Szabados signed with the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League. She previously played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and also played an exhibition game in the Western Hockey League.
"We talked before the practice to treat her with respect, don't be shooting pucks at her head," forward Luke Gazdic said. "I started firing pucks at her early and she was saving every one I had."

Coyotes (29-23-11) at Capitals (29-25-10)
Puck drop: 5 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-FM (92.3).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Korpikoski-Vermette-Boedker
Erat-Chipchura-Vrbata
McMillan-Ribeiro-Doan
Klinkhammer-Halpern-Moss
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Summers-Stone
Smith
Potential scratches: Hanzal, Bissonnette, Schlemko and Gormley.
Injury update: Center Martin Hanzal (lower-body) is doubtful to play. Defenseman David Schlemko (lower-body) is out.
Possible Capitals lines:
Johansson-Backstrom-Ovechkin
Penner-Beagle-Brouwer
Chimera-Fehr-Ward
Brown-Stoa-Wilson
Alzner-Carlson
Orlov-Green
Hillen-Carrick
Halak
Potential scratches: Erskine, Laich and Grabovski.
Injury update: Center Brooks Laich (groin) is a game-time decision. Center Mikhail Grabovski (sprained ankle), and defenseman John Erskine (concussion) are out.
On the Capitals:
"I think the biggest thing they’ve got going for them is the power play," defenseman Chris Summers said. "They got a few new guys in there looking to earn some spots, and I know they’re kind of dealing with some injuries as well. And it’s the same thing for them, guys looking for opportunity, and they’re going to give it every night."
This will be Summers first game with the Coyotes since March 12, 2013:
"He’s a good veteran guy," coach Dave Tippett said. "He’s played games for us before. We know exactly what to expect with him, and he knows his role on our team. I expect a very good game."
This is center Mike Ribeiro's first game in Washington since he played for the Capitals last season:
"I think it was a great year," he said. "I enjoyed myself here. It was great to live in D.C., and I had a chance to look around and visit. But at the same time, I played with great players and learned from Adam Oates and players I played with. But that was last year. New year. I’m focused here."
This is also a homecoming for center Jeff Halpern, who is a D.C. native and played seven seasons with the Capitals in two stints:
"It was a tremendous privilege and honor," he said. "I really enjoyed it the first time. The second time I probably enjoyed it even more."
-Coyotes are 7-1 in games they score two power play goals.
-Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is the first defenseman from the 2009 draft class to reach 100 career points.
-Defenseman Keith Yandle is two assists shy of 200 in his career.
-The Coyotes are 10-1-2 in games winger Radim Vrbata scores a goal.
-The Capitals are 20-8-5-1 at home against the Coyotes.
-Five of the last six meetings between the teams has been decided by one goal.
-Goalie Jaroslav Halak, who's expected to make his Capitals debut after being acquired at the trade deadline, 1-0-1 against the Coyotes this season with a 1.98 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.
-The Capitals have earned a point in 13 of their last 16 home games and have averaged 3.40 goals per game in their last five games at Verizon Center.

Canadiens (35-22-7) at Coyotes (28-23-11)
Puck drop: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ-Plus/KMVP-AM (860).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Boedker-Vermette-Doan
Erat-Ribeiro-Vrbata
Korpikoski-Halpern-Moss
McMillan-Chipchura-Bissonnette
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Stone
Smith
Potential scratches: Hanzal, Klinkhammer and Summers.
Injury update: Center Martin Hanzal (lower-body) is doubtful to play.
Possible Canadiens lines:
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Plekanec-Vanek
Bourque-Briere-Gionta
Moen-White-Wiese
Markov-Emelin
Weaver-Subban
Murray-Tinordi
Budaj
Potential scratches: Price, Prust, Parros, Gorges, Bournival, Bouillon and Eller.
Injury update: Goalie Carey Price (lower-body), defenseman Josh Gorges (hand) and forwards Michael Bournival (concussion) and Brandon Prust (upper body) are on injured reserve for Montreal.
On the Canadiens, who acquired winger Thomas Vanek at Wednesday's trade deadline:
"I’m expecting a lot of energy, them to come hard and come fast," winger Rob Klinkhammer said. "They're a gritty team. Their forwards might not be the biggest guys, but they play with a lot of heart. They play with a lot of speed. They go to the net hard. So we're going to have to match their intensity. Obviously, they picked up a marquee guy in Thomas Vanek. The guy can put the puck in the net. He's a world-class player, so we're really going to have to be on our toes tonight."
Winger Martin Erat is set to make his Coyotes debut after he was added via a trade Tuesday:
"It’s great to be on the ice," Erat said. "Too bad I couldn't skate yesterday. But it’s very exciting to get back to the game and play hockey again."
The Canadiens beat the Coyotes 3-1 Dec.17:
"I thought we were very sound defensively," coach Dave Tippett said. "Didn't give up a whole lot. Our back pressure, our 'D" zone coverage was really sound. I still think we can go to the net a lot harder, find pucks around the net, hit the net with shots, things that allow you a better chance to score. I’d like to see us continue to push away at that part of the game and see if we can improve."
-The Coyotes didn't commit a penalty Tuesday against the Canucks, the fifth game in franchise history that has happened.
-Defenseman David Schlemko played in his career-high 47th game of the season against Vancouver.
-Erat brings a three-game point streak into tonight's game (one goal and two assists).
-Goalie Mike Smith has a 1.57 goals-against average since Feb.1.
-The Canadiens are 13-2-4 against the Coyotes.
-Winger Max Pacioretty has four goals and two assists during his four-game point streak.
-Vanek has 21 goals and 32 assists in 60 games this season between the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres.
-This is the third of a four-game West Coast trip for Montreal, which won 4-3 in a shootout Wednesday in Anaheim against the Ducks.

Winger Martin Erat isn't arriving in Phoenix on a wave of confidence.
"Even though his goal scoring, well, he’s tied with our goaltender for goal scoring so it isn’t where we need it to be," General Manager Don Maloney said. "But we think that can come back. He’s a good player. If we get him back to the level we can get him to, this is a good deal."
Despite Erat's struggles this season -- one goal and 23 assists -- the Coyotes weren't hesitant to add him Tuesday in a four-player deal that sent defenseman Rusty Klesla and forward Chris Brown to the Washington Capitals. The Coyotes also received minor-leaguer John Mitchell.
Familiarity and fit seemed to trump all the uncertainty about Erat, which aside from a slow offensive year also includes the fact that he's now requested a trade twice in his career -- last season when he asked to leave Nashville and then this season when he asked the Capitals to deal him.
"Early in the year, he wasn't playing much there and I think there wasn't much going and it’s hard for a player to get confidence," coach Dave Tippett said. "You never know what’s happening with the other team. They’ve got other players they're looking at or whatever they're doing. I wasn’t too concerned about that. I remember him more from the Nashville days, and I thought he was a very efficient player for him."
His prowess with the Predators -- he hovered at, near or above the 20-goal plateau in six seasons -- gives credence to the claim he'll be able to settle in with the Coyotes because of the similarities between their style and that of the Predators'.
"He can play both left and right winger. Left shot," Tippett said. "He’s a competitive player on the puck, and he’s less out of a shooter mode and more out of a competitive, win puck battles, win (and) make good plays on the wall, make good plays when they need to be made.
"I wouldn’t put him strictly as a set-up guy, but he's just a competitive player. When you watch a player play, there's player that make plays when it’s an easy time to make plays. But there’s players that make plays in hard situations, and he’s a guy that has the ability to do that. I think he’ll fit in well with our group."
What also will help the transition is Erat is already familiar with his apparent linemates, center Martin Hanzal and winger Radim Vrbata. All have played together for the Czech Republic at the World Championships. Erat also played with center Mike Ribeiro last season in Washington.
"You look at his stats," Vrbata said. "I think it speaks for his stats. I think he likes to pass more than shoot. If he’s in a good spot, I hope he will take a shot. But he’s pretty strong with the puck, and I think he’s a good playmaker. Hopefully if we end up playing together, I’ll try to get open for him and hopefully we can build some chemistry."

Canucks (28-25-10) at Coyotes (27-23-11)
Puck drop: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ-Plus/KTAR-FM (92.3).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Boedker-Vermette-Doan
Korpikoski-Ribeiro-Vrbata
McMillan-Halpern-Moss
Klinkhammer-Chipchura-Bissonnette
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Stone
Smith
Potential scratches: Rundblad, Hanzal and Summers.
Injury update: Center Martin Hanzal (lower-body) is day-to-day.
Possible Canucks lines:
Higgins-H. Sedin-Burrows
Hansen-Kesler-Booth
Archibald-Richardson-Kassian
Sestito-Dalpe-Diaz
Edler-Tanev
Hamhuis-Garrison
Stanton-Bieksa
Luongo
Potential scratches: Weber, D. Sedin and Schroeder.
Injury update: Winger Daniel Sedin (leg). Center Mike Santorelli (right shoulder surgery) and defensemen Yannick Weber (upper body) and Andrew Alberts (concussion) are on injured reserve.
On the Canucks:
"Both teams are right in the hunt, and I think we haven't gotten the success we've wanted to as of late -- both teams," goalie Mike Smith said. "It’s an important game. Obviously, every game is important. But to play against a team like that right now that’s fighting for the same playoff spot you are, I think it's a no-brainer. It shouldn’t be a tough one to get up for."
"I think they’re in the same situation as we are," winger Radim Vrbata said. "They’re right there, too, and as we talked about before, I think it's whoever out of those three, four teams that’s going to get the most points will get in. I expect them to come out hard as we hopefully will, and it’ll be a tight game against them."
"I know our team's going to be desperate," coach Dave Tippett said. "I'm not sure what their mindset is, but our team we’re trying to build off some positive things we're doing. But we’ve got to turn those positives into results. All it takes is a look at the standings and the results lately and that would push you into desperation mode."
The Coyotes are 0-2-1 since returning from the Olympic break:
"It’s always frustrating," Smith said. "We feel we’ve done a lot of good things as of late but haven't got rewarded for it and we’re in the trenches, though. We’re still right there. I think we have to realize that but just continue to try to put 60 minutes together."
On Wednesday's trade deadline:
"I think everybody knows about it, but we have enough problems how to win games," Vrbata said. "I didn’t hear anything. If there’s a trade in the league that happens, obviously everyone's talking about it. Especially playing St. Louis, who made that big trade a couple days ago. But I don’t think there’s too much talk about it."
-Winger Paul Bissonnette has established a career-high for points in a season with seven.
-The Coyotes are 17-4-5 in games when they don't allow a power play goal.
-Smith ranks first in the league in games (51), shots against (1,559), saves (1,422) and time-on-ice (2,957).
-Center Antoine Vermette has five goals in four games against the Canucks this season.
-The Canucks penalty kill ranks sixth in the league (84.5 percent).
-Winger Chris Higgins has two goals and two assists in four games against the Coyotes this season.
-The Canucks are 16-25-9 when they score three goals or less.
-They're 11-0-1 when they score four or more goals.

Blues (39-14-6) at Coyotes (27-22-11)
Puck drop: 6 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ-Plus/KTAR-FM (92.3).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Doan-Vermette-Boedker
Klinkhammer-Hanzal-Vrbata
Korpikoski-Ribeiro-Moss
Bissonnette-Halpern-Chipchura
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Stone
Smith
Potential scratches: Rundblad, McMillan and Summers.
Injury update: None.
Possible Blues lines:
Schwartz-Backes-Steen
Ott-Roy-Oshie
Paajarvi-Berglund-Tarasenko
Morrow-Lapierre-Reaves
Bouwmeester-Petrangelo
Jackman-Shattenkirk
Colaiacovo-Polak
Miller
Potential scratches: Jaskin, Cole and Leopold.
Injury update: Defensemen Jordan Leopold (ankle) and Vladimir Sobotka (knee).
On playing the Blues, who are 4-0-1 in their last five meetings with the Coyotes:
"Gotta keep it simple," winger Rob Klinkhammer said. "We keep saying that, but we have to be simple the whole time. Can’t have any turnovers, have to stay disciplined. They’re probably going to try to stir stuff up during the game, but we have to stay out of it and play our game."
Goalie Ryan Miller, who was acquired Friday from Buffalo, is 6-0 with a 1.15 goals-against average and .963 save percentage in his career against the Coyotes:
"Just a lot of shots, a lot of rebounds," Klinkhammer said. "Muck it up. I think you have to have a lot of traffic on him because he's one of the best goalies in the world. You can’t stop what you can’t see so if we get some traffic on him, our D-men keep blasting away, hopefully we get a few past him."
The Blues also added forward Steve Ott in Friday's trade:
"A lot of times when there's trades, the first game is kind of awkward," center Mike Ribeiro said. "Everyone’s trying to fit in, and sometimes it doesn’t fit right. It can go both ways but for us, it’s really not much you can control there but more about us and what we have to do. Keep pushing, keep taking positives that we did the last few games and bring it up tonight.
"We usually play some solid games against top teams. I think that’s a good thing to play those guys tonight and show up and get these two points and if we do that tonight, I think we'll set up the week pretty good for us."
The Coyotes return home after a 0-1-1 road trip:
"A little bit like where we've been lately," coach Dave Tippett said. "Hanging around games, and you can’t find a way to get on top of it. ... There are some things we really liked about our team and some mistakes and penalties that don’t’ give us the best chance to win."
-Ribeiro has scored a team-high 11 goals on home ice.
-The Coyotes have scored 25 power-play goals at home, which is tied for second-most in the league.
-Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has two goals and an assists in two games against the Blues this season.
-The Coyotes are 13-for-14 on the penalty kill in their last five games against the Blues.
-The Blues haven't scored in their first two games back from the Olympic break, marking the first two times they've been shut out this season. They've never been shut out three games in a row in franchise history.
-Since 2011-12, the Blues are 7-1-1 against the Coyotes and have outscored them 26-15.
-The team's plus-43 goal differential ranks third in the NHL.
-Winger T.J. Oshie has two goals and two assists in his last four games against the Coyotes.

As the NHL inches closer to Wednesday's trade deadline, the speculation about potential swaps only seems to grow.
Little cap space and a truckload of teams in contention has many general managers forecasting a frozen marketplace, but that hasn't stopped the chatter.
Take a look at what's on the radar of a handful of teams around the league:
*BUFFALO: The Sabres have the potential to be the most active team at the deadline, and they started dealing Friday. Goalie Ryan Miller and center Steve Ott are headed to St. Louis in exchange for goalie Jaroslav Halak, winger Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier and two draft picks, according to multiple reports."I know they’re kind of looking around for opportunity. I think that’s probably best for everybody," Miller told John Vogl of The Buffalo News before the trade happened. "I always felt like there was a good connection between me and the city, the people here and the way we carry ourselves. It really was a goal of mine. I needed to fit in here. You don’t find too many teams that are ingrained in the community as you do here. Part of being a Sabre is being part of Buffalo. It was always important to me.” Also, defenseman Christian Ehrhoff has submitted an eight-team list to management of places he wouldn't accept a trade to, a right he has with a modified no-trade clause. "Obviously, the goal is to win the Stanley Cup," Ehrhoff said. "Playing in the playoffs is nice but like I’ve said, I made a commitment with the Sabres. As long as I’m here, I’ve giving 100 percent for the team."
*DETROIT: The Red Wings fall into a popular category this season -- they might not be sellers but they also could let the deadline pass without adding anyone. Ideally, the Wings want an experienced defenseman, according to Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News. "When you’re (three points) up on the last playoff spot, it’s hard to trade top prospects or high draft picks to rent a player,” General Manager Ken Holland said. “At the same time, we’re always looking to upgrade if there’s a hockey trade out there. I call a hockey trade one that affects your team into next season. I’m open to it. I don’t see us paying a big price for a rental. I don’t believe that’s the direction we should go.”
*EDMONTON: Count the Oilers as one of the few teams open for business but will anyone want what they're selling? They have nine impending unrestricted free agents, including goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, winger Ales Hemsky and defenseman Nick Schultz. But don't inquire about young forwards Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle. "I never like going down that path of untouchables," General Manager Craig MacTavish told Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. "All I'll say is we've paid a pretty serious and severe price for a lot of players I won't be parting with. There are players I value more than maybe other people in the league." But center Sam Gagner could be had if a team wants to add to their depth up the middle. But with a price tag of $4.8 million next season and the one after that, suitors might not be as eager to pursue.
*MINNESOTA: Goaltending is the area the Wild want to improve, according to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Josh Harding is dealing with complications with multiple sclerosis, and Niklas Backstrom has an abdominal issue. Rookie Darcy Kuemper has done an admirable job, going 9-3-2 with a .921 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average. The Wild were rumored to be interested in Miller, but that option no longer exists. General Manager Chuck Fletcher is "very confident with Darcy," he said. "We’ve relied on a lot of young players this year. It’s sort of the makeup of our team. It’s going to be pretty hard to all of a sudden become a veteran team at the trade deadline.”
*SAN JOSE: Not much buzz around the Sharks, and that makes sense. They just welcomed back forwards Logan Couture and Raffi Torres from injury, and both had an immediate impact. In their first game back, both scored twice.
*ST. LOUIS: The Blues were interested in Miller, and they got the player they wanted. The contracts for Halak and backup Brian Elliott expire after this season, so it's possible Miller is more than a rental, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
*TAMPA BAY: The Martin St. Louis drama could very well settle down enough to keep him with the Lightning -- for now, according to Damien Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times. Rumors had the New York Rangers as a likely destination after reports came out that St. Louis wants out of Tampa Bay but considering how valuable St. Louis has been to the Lightning, it'd make complete sense for the team to keep him. The trade watch, however, could resume in the summer. For now, prospects and picks could headline General Manager Steve Yzerman's wish list.
*TORONTO: The Maple Leafs are staying away from rentals and don't plan to trade away their potential UFAs, according to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. They could however make a depth move for either their defense or forwards. "Not having a whole lot of sellers is affecting it,” General Manager Dave Nonis said. “Guys who are throwing names out there, the asking price is crazy.”
*VANCOUVER: A report surfaced earlier in the week that center Ryan Kesler requested a trade from the Canucks, but Kesler has denied ever doing so. "I never commented to anyone I wanted out," he said. "My heart is with this team and making the playoffs." But it's clear the Canucks are listening to offers, according to Ed Willes of The Province. The Canucks would be trying to add a first-round pick, a prospect and a roster player. Look for teams like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit to be possible partners.
*WINNIPEG: All seems to be quiet here. The Jets don't have much cap space, and General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn't been overly active at his two previous deadlines.

Coyotes (27-21-11) at Avalanche (37-17-5)
Puck drop: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ-Plus/KMVP-AM (860).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Korpikoski-Vermette-Boedker
Klinkhammer-Hanzal-Vrbata
McMillan-Ribeiro-Doan
Chipchura-Halpern-Moss
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Stone
Greiss
Potential scratches: Rundblad, Bissonnette and Summers.
Injury update: Coach Dave Tippett said a few players were dealing with nicks. "They'll be game-time decisions," he said.
Possible Avalanche lines:
Landeskog-Stastny-MacKinnon
O'Reilly-Duchene-Parenteau
McLeod-Mitchell-McGinn
Sarich-Cliche-Bordeleau
Barrie-Wilson
Hejda-Holden
Benoit-Guenin
Varlamov
Potential scratches: Johnson and Talbot.
Injury update: Left winger Alex Tanguay (hip) is out for the season, and left winger David Van Der Gulik (head) is on injured reserve.
On the Avalanche:
"They're a good team," Tippett said. "They play fast, and they’ll come at you in waves, and we’ll have to play well."
Goalie Thomas Greiss gets the start:
"We gotta get everybody as involved as we can," Tippett said. "(No.1 Mike Smith’s) had long travel a couple days. You gotta look at the week coming forward. We come home, we got a big week at home here and then back on the road. Greisser's worked hard here in practice for a week, and he played well in here last time. So hopefully that’s a good sign."
On Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Jets:
"I liked how hard we played," Tippett said. "Our forecheck was pretty good. Our backcheck was really strong. We clogged the middle of the ice well, some key areas we wanted to make sure that we improved, and I thought we were better in those areas. In watching the game this morning, we probably deserved a better fate. But you get to a shootout, that’s the way it goes sometimes."
-Winger Rob Klinkhammer is a team-best plus-7 in 28 road games.
-Defenseman Keith Yandle ranks second in power-play assists (19) and power-play points (22) among NHL defensemen.
-Center Antoine Vermette has three goals in two games against the Avalanche this season.
-Goalie Mike Smith is 8-1-3 with a 1.85 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in 12 career games against the Avalanche.
-The Avalanche are 30-1-3 when scoring first.
-Winger Nathan MacKinnon leads all NHL rookies in points (45), goals (22) and assists (23).
-Captain Gabriel Landeskog had a career-high nine-game point streak snapped Wednesday.
-Goalie Semyon Varlamov has the most wins by a goalie since Jan.1 (11).

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